King James Version
What Does Genesis 16:7 Mean?
“And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.”
Context
5
And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
6
But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee . And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. as: Heb. that which is good in thine eyes dealt: Heb. afflicted her
7
And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8
And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(7) **The angel of the Lord.**—Heb., *of Jehovah. *(See Excursus at end of Book.)
**In the way to Shur.**—Hagar evidently fled by the usual route leading from Hebron past Beer-sheba to Egypt. The wilderness was that of Paran, in which Kadesh was situated. The fountain by which Hagar was sitting was on the road to Shur, which is a desert on the eastern side of Egypt, forming the boundary of the territory of the Ishmaelites (Genesis 25:18) and of the Amalekites (1Samuel 15:7; 1Samuel 27:8), and reached by the Israelites soon after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15:22; Numbers 33:8). It is now called *J’afar.*
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Genesis 16:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Genesis 16:7
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge